Why do we say "It takes two to tango"?

Well-Known Expressions

It takes two to tango

Meaning:

Sometimes mutual cooperation is needed to achieve a common goal

Background:

The phrase "It Takes Two to Tango" appears to have originated in the USA in the 1920s, but was popularized by Pearl Bailey's 1952 recording of "Takes Two to Tango" by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning.

More expressions and their source

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Based on the author’s family story, comes an extraordinary novel about a mother and her daughters’ escape from Taiwan.

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Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus

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